Students compile data on Elfin Forest plant life

Maddie Hahn of High Tech High School in San Marcos shows one of the QR codes she and her classmates created on the Botanical Trail in the Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve. Visitors can use a smartphone to scan the code and learn more about the plant.
— Jamie Scott Lytle

Maddie Hahn of High Tech High School in San Marcos shows one of the QR codes she and her classmates created on the Botanical Trail in the Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve. Visitors can use a smartphone to scan the code and learn more about the plant.
— Jamie Scott Lytle

SAN MARCOS  Eleventh-graders at High Tech High in San Marcos took on the Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve for a class project, researching all native plants in nature preserve just west of Escondido.

The 65 students compiled the data, and created QR codes that were placed along trails. The codes connect to a website with plant descriptions, photos and locations within the reserve. High Tech High teacher Chris Morissette coordinated the project.

The students also created an iBook for the project that is sold on iTunes.

The Escondido Creek Conservancy, a nonprofit that works to restore and protect the Elfin Forest open space, hosted the students May 18 at the Elfin Forest Interpretive Center, where the students gave demonstrations on their research and 260 of their photos were installed.